Category Archives: News

W.S.P.D. police involved in shooting

NEWS-LEDGER ONLINE — July 10, 2012 —

A man was shot by police last night as offices responded to a “domestic assault” report on the 800 block of Platinum Lane — part of the Ironworks subdivision near Raley Field. The initial call came in at 10:41 p.m.

According to a press release from Sgt. Nathan Steele of the West Sacramento Police Department:

[adrotate group=”10″] “As officers arrived on scene to check on the welfare of the victim, a subject rushed at an officer and attempted to grab the officer’s handgun. The officer fired his duty weapon, striking the subject one time. Paramedics transported the subject to the hospital for medical treatment.”

Steele told the News-Ledger on Tuesday morning that the victim was a 42-year old West Sacramento man who was in “non-life threatening condition.”

Steele did not identify the injured subject or the officer. But he added that the officer has three years experience and is being placed on routine paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated by several divisions of W.S.P.D. Anyone with information is asked to call the department’s investigations division, 617-4900.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Citizens learn about local justice system

Graduates of the 2012 “Citizens Academy,” with Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig at right. (Courtesy photo)

NEWS-LEDGER — JULY 4, 2012 —

Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig has announced that 23 county residents graduated from the inaugural session of the Yolo County Law Enforcement Citizens Academy.

[adrotate group=”10″] The graduation ceremony was held June 21. The Academy was sponsored by the District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, the Probation Department and police departments from Davis, West Sacramento, Winters and Woodland.

The Citizens Academy is an eight-week course “designed to involve diverse communities in participating in mutual learning about the criminal justice system, diversity, and racial issues within the framework of our system of justice. The goal is to achieve improved relationships and communication between diverse communities and the criminal justice system,” reported the D.A.’s office.

Weekly sessions included: The Role of the District Attorney; The Role of Law Enforcement, including Internal Affairs and Review Boards; Special Challenges of Prosecution, including Three Strikes and Domestic Violence; Race as a Factor in the Criminal Justice System; the FBI and US Attorney’s Office; and Gangs.

“Based on the feedback received from class participants, the first Academy was a huge success,” Reisig said in a press release. “I think participants learned about the challenges of law enforcement in our diverse communities throughout Yolo County and what its public servants here accomplish.”

[adrotate group=”9″] One student was quoted, “This academy has changed my perspective on law enforcement and with the knowledge I have gained here I will definitely share it with others in my community.”

Another offered, “It was great to put the faces with the departments and see what the different community challenges are.”

The Academy will be offered again in the spring of 2013. For more information, log on to http://www.yoloda.org.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Life in prison for abusing daughter

NEWS-LEDGER ONLINE — JULY 9, 2012 —

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced today that on July 6, Yolo Superior Court Judge Janet Gaard sentenced West Sacramento’s Michael Martinez to 335 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of 47 counts of child molestation and five counts of possessing matter depicting sexual acts by a minor.

[adrotate group=”7″] The jury found Martinez guilty in May of abusing his seven-year old daughter — committing child molestation and recording video evidence of the acts on a cell phone.

The girl testified in the trial. According to the D.A.’s office,Martinez initially confessed his guilt and then reversed himself in trial.

The D.A.’s office said that according to a probation report ,Martinez did not apologize to the victim, and that he claimed,“There is a lot about this that has been misunderstood by everyone” and he “can’t be responsible for something he had no control over.”

Deputy District Attorney Sara Abrate prosecuted the case. She said in a press release: “This sentence ensures the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison and will never have the chance to victimize another child.”

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Q&A with West Sac police on Tuesday

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER —

The Bryte & Broderick Community Action Network (BBCAN) will host the public and members of the West Sacramento Police Department at 6 p.m. on July 10 at the River Bend Manor, 664 Cummins Way.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Child abduction report ‘unfounded’

[adrotate group=”9″] NEWS-LEDGER ONLINE — JULY 7, 2012 —

A child’s story about being abducted earlier today on Maple Street has been discounted by West Sacramento police.

“It ended up being unfounded,” Sgt. Nathan Steele of the West Sacramento Police Department told the News-Ledger.

“An investigation by West Sacramento Police Department patrol personnel and detectives determined that the abduction did not occur and the incident was fabricated by the juvenile,” Steele added in a press release.

The seven-year old girl said a man got her into his vehicle, but she escaped nearby and went home. The suspect had been described as a black man in a dark SUV.

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Possible child abduction attempt

NEWS-LEDGER ONLINE — JULY 7, 2012 —

West Sacramento police this afternoon are investigating a possible child abduction attempt that may have taken place outside a home on the 500-block of Maple Street.

SERGEANT NATHAN STEELE of the W.S.P.D. addresses reporters concerning a possible child abduction attempt on the 500-block of Maple Street in West Sacramento (News-Ledger photo)

“(The investigation) is ongoing, and we’re not quite sure what happened,” said Sergeant Nathan Steele of the West Sacramento Police Department. “Today at approximately 3:13 in the afternoon, West Sacramento Police Department received a phone call about a possible abduction attempt.”

[adrotate group=”9″] A couple of girls were outside on the block, when a suspect drove up in a dark SUV. The man is so far described only as a black male of average height and build, age 30-40. He may have temporarily kidnapped one of the girls, a seven-year old.

“Apparently, he got her into a vehicle and left the area with her,” said Steele. “The information we’ve got is that the juvenile was able to get away.”

The girl made it the short distance home and reported the incident. Witness accounts aren’t entirely consistent, said Steele.

“Our officers are canvassing the area and outside agencies have been notified.”

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

RCHS kid nails the blues

Ammon Burdge of River City High School won this year’s ‘Blues in the Schools’ contest, composing a song called “Sky’s Turning Gray Skies Blue.” The senior is a member of the school’s jazz band, “The Syncopating Sea-Monkeys.”

The winning song will be produced and recorded by professional musicians.

[adrotate group=”9″] Students from Woodland and West Sacramento competed in the songwriting contest, co-sponsored by YoloArts and the Sacramento Blues Society.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).